Our Monday Message From Congressional Candidate Andy Harris

Friends,


Tonight we begin week two of the Special Session in Annapolis. Despite the thousands of people who have called and protested the O'Malley Administrations largest tax increase in Maryland history, Democratic legislators are still intent on burdening working Maryland families with this new tax burden. I have never voted for a single statewide tax increase and I will not start now.


Last week, I uncovered unethical and possibly illegal actions by the O'Malley Administration. The O'Malley Administration engaged in a calculated effort to misuse tax-payer dollars by having cabinet secretaries and their staff lobby for the largest tax increase in Maryland history. I find this a reprehensible misuse of tax-payer dollars and an abuse of political power. The O'Malley Administration used scare tactics, and leveraged their position of power to lobby people who depend on the government for their livelihood.


I obtained two emails that shed light on O'Malley's plan. The first email is from the Governor's Office. It directs Cabinet Secretaries and their staff to strong-arm those over whom their departments have influence - urging them to support the largest tax increase in Maryland history. The second email evidences the implementation of the plan. It is an email from the Department of General Service Secretary to a private state contractor registered through EMarket Maryland.


I believe the effort to intimidate an EMarket Maryland contractor by the Cabinet Secretary is uncalled for, unjustified, and reprehensible. The purpose of establishing EMarket Maryland was to increase the efficiency of the procurement process. It was not intended as a lobbying arm of the Executive Branch.


I have called for a full investigation by the Attorney General and the Maryland Ethics Commission. I have also filed a public information request for the ongoing logs of these lobbying activities mentioned in the email from the Governor's Office. With Maryland facing a massive tax increase, I am going to do everything possible to determine how much tax-payer money was wasted on this unjustified and unethical lobbying practice.


If I am elected to Congress, I will fight to make sure our tax dollars are used in the most effective and ethical way possible. I will continue to shed light on corruption in government so people can regain faith in the political process.


Finally, I want to take a quick moment to thank those of you who attended my fundraiser in Salisbury on Saturday night. The overwhelming support for my candidacy is both humbling and encouraging.


Defending our tax dollars,


Andy